Something special - Business First of Buffalo:

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“Gary and I were introduced by a mutua l friend ata game,” Hamels recalled. “Later, we would see each other at social functions from time to time and eventuallty gotto talking. “When it became obvious that Americanj Axle where I worked wasgoing down, we decidee it was time to start a company,” he The next step for the budding entrepreneurs was a visit to the Small Business Development Center at , where Hamels was an adjunc professor teaching career and technical educatio There they met Bill an adviser who helps businesse s get launched and he gave them a blueprinyt to follow.
“Gary and I put a 38-pagee business plan together that contained projections and Bill then told us to see our banker and we hooked up withFirstr Niagara. We told them what we wanted to do and they partnererdwith us,” Hamels said. “We hit the ground running and haven’ft stopped since. I’ve wondered what happene d to thewhole year,” Slawinski Who’s Who: The business owners are Gary Slawinski, Robert Hamels, chief operating officer, and a silentg partner – the one who introduced them to each The BMG corporate name is derivex from the first initials of the three owners.
What’e Happening: The company is a custom fabricato r of specialty architectural products such as composite and platepanep systems, ornamental metal and glass railing systems, and custom sun Revenue: More than $600,000 in nine months of 2008; $1-1.5 million is forecast for 2009. Seven full-time and part-time workers. 12 to 15 mostly general contractorwand sub-contractors. “Most of our customersa are in Erie and Niagara but because many of their jobsin construction, rehabilitation and renovation are away from Western New York, our work goes outsid e the area, too,” Slawinski Company history: BMG Systems was formed in March 2008 by now 48, Hamels, now 56, and theirf third partner.
Prior to launching their busines enterprise, Hamels had lost his 14-year job at American Axle’s Buffalo plant which closed and Slawinskiu hadleft , a North Tonawanda architectural glass and meta company. Slawinski started his workinb career at 18 in the metal fabricatiojn business when he joinedYearsz later, at Krug, he was shop fabricator and latere ran the custom metal division. Hameles worked since 1972 as a millwright, welder, maintenancer employee and superintendent for several employers includinhg theformer , 3M O-Cel-O in the Town of and finally American Axle.
Job Among the projects that BMG has worked on arethe , , the Buffal federal courthouse, , , GM Worldx Headquarters and Citicorp Building. Biggest or most uniqud projectto date: The at the Smithsonian last fall was the bigges recent project. The work required intricate stainless steel fabricated panels that were installedc on the exterior ofthe building. At Syracuse University, the compant produced formed aluminum metal work for one of thecampus